ARIA.
"Let me go, you bloody fool!" I screamed as he tore through the bush path that led towards the main palace grounds at the front.
I kept kicking and flailing my hands into the air to no avail. Not even the hard thumps on his back stopped him from carrying me over to the front of the Palace.

The Palace grounds were empty, save for a few guards who were walking around and keeping the area safe. Neither of them moved as the guards carrying me walked past.
"Help me, please!" I cried at the top of my voice, hoping one of them would make a move to save me but neither of them did. "He wants to rape me! Help me, please!"
"Quiet, woman!" One of the chief guards snapped at the top of his voice. "You're causing trouble in the early hours of the morning!"
I was dropped to the floor and the guards grabbed me roughly before I could make any move away from him. He clamped his hand over my mouth and pushed me against the wall. "Scream again and I'll give you a reason to scream more! So are you going to fucking keep quiet or do I do the job myself?!"
His eyes were filled with anger and I could see the danger swirling in his dark orbs. I was scared by how menacing he sounded. Swallowing, I nodded immediately and he pulled away before grabbing me by the arm, through the Palace entrance doors.
I made no noise as he pulled me along with him, wishing and hoping Tiffany was going to appear out of nowhere to stop him from carrying me away.

But no one came and I was dragged towards the ornate steps that led towards the King's chambers.
That was when it dawned on me. I had been stupidly scared to think that this guard had kidnapped me just so he could take advantage of me. But that wasn't the case. The King must have asked him to get me.
I was filled with so much uncertainty, wondering why he had summoned me this time again by kidnapping me with my notice.
He was starting to get extreme with his whims and it upset me that he could do anything to me because he was King. I had no option in this. I could neither complain nor get angry. Hell, my life was in his hands and I was only lucky that he wanted me. I would have been dead meat by now.

He pulled me through the dark halls, past heavy-laden doors and dim candles.
In an hour, the servants were going to be awake and going about their daily duties. Tiffany was going to do her half-hourly check to see if I was done and she wasn't going to find me there. That meant I was going to be punished worse for shirking my duties. I was probably going to be handed over to the guards to have me whipped for shirking work several times in a row.
He stopped in front of the King's chambers and nodded at one of the guards.
"Tell the King that I have arrived with the woman he asked me to fish out for him."
The guard looked at me in confusion. Then he recognised me and nodded before knocking on the door and walking into the room.
He came out moments later, his eyes fixed on me as he nodded once at the guard and I was pushed in, the guard staying back.
I winced as the door shut loudly behind me. I remained standing as I took in the dark room.
A lone candle sat on a candle holder, almost burning out. The thick drapes of the window on the other side of the room were pulled open and the silhouette of a large man standing by the lintel permeated into my vision.
I made no move towards him. I waited for him to make a move. For him to speak to me, to explain why he was doing this.
But he didn't. Instead, his fingers lifted into the air and I caught a glowing ember at the end of his fingertips. He was smoking tobacco.
"Do you know how much trouble you have put me in?" I asked, taking a few steps into the room. I was tired of waiting for him to speak to me. I wanted to scream my grievances. I didn't care about the guards standing by the hallway. "I am still going through the punishment for shirking work all because you had me drugged and kidnapped. I was filling thirty fucking barrels of water after washing a whole mountain of plates and I don't care if I am complaining but it is all your fault! And when you let me go this time, I don't know how many barrels I will be asked to fill! This is so un-nice of me. You don't get to treat me this way because you're King and you can do whatever—"
"None of that is going to be happening," He spoke, his voice low and gruff before he let out a slight cough.
"Huh?" I gave him an incredulous look, not minding if he could read my expression or not. Of course, he could. He was a fucking Werewolf. An Alpha King for that matter. "What are you talking about?"
He leaned away from the wall and turned to look at him. From where I stood, I could see the slight red glow in his eyes. I took a few steps back, fear engulfing my whole body. No one dared to make a move on the Alpha when he was in this state except they were ready to go to their early grave.
"No one will punish you for not doing your duties because that won't be happening anymore. You will be relieved of your duties so you can become my mistress. I will make arrangements for your name to be taken away from the Book of Slaves and from this moment onwards, you are mine alone."
Shaking my head, I staggered backwards, my eyes brimming with tears as he said those words. No way in hell was he going to make me his second choice. No fucking way!
"No!" I cried. "You can't make me yours against my own wishes. I already told you I will not be your second choice and I stand by my words!"
"Like you have an option?" He asked, drawing close to me. I backed away from him until my back hit the wall of the door. He stopped inches away, his warmth engulfing me as he stared down at my lips, his eyes lingering there for a long time. "Do you think you have a say in this?"
Tipping my chin towards him, I looked into his eyes defiantly. "I have a say in this. We are two adults and I must agree with you wanting this. But I don't want to be a part of it. I'd rather wallow in pain and depression, seeing that another woman has my mate, than cave and fall at your feet!"
Chuckling, he stroked his chin and walked back into the room. He stubbed the end of his tobacco against an ashtray. "I love how bold you are. I am sure you're going to do anything to make sure you're not my mistress too, right?"
"Fill a hundred barrels for the rest of my life? Yes, I will. It's far better than being a second choice. Slaving away is far better than being a second option."
"Then I guess you wouldn't mind if your friend gets killed. What's her name again? Daneesha?"
I blinked in shock. "What are you talking about?"
"Your friend, Daneesha. If you refuse to be my mistress, then I will be forced to drown her at sea.”